2014 Sport For All Day proves to be a popular event
***************************************************

     2014 Sport For All Day, organised by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD), was held successfully yesterday (August 3). The event attracted more than 220 000 people to participate in free recreation and sports programmes at designated venues in the 18 districts and to enjoy free use of the LCSD's leisure facilities.

     "More than 195 000 people used our free facilities yesterday. The majority of the booked facilities were taken up by hirers and most of the remaining few were reallocated to walk-in applicants on a first-come, first-served basis. The overall usage rate was 78 per cent with a turn-up rate of 95.5 per cent," a spokesman for the LCSD said today (August 4).

     "It was encouraging to see the high usage of the facilities - particularly the main arenas, which had a usage rate of more than 97 per cent," the spokesman added.

     More than 115 000 people enjoyed swimming for free in the LCSD's swimming pools yesterday. Ten swimming pools reached their maximum capacity during the peak hours in the afternoon.

     As the FISAC-IRSF World Rope Skipping Championships 2014 final was held in Hong Kong yesterday, Sport For All Day this year had rope skipping as its main theme with "Stay active! Rope skipping keeps you fit!" as the event slogan. Rope skipping demonstrations and group skipping participation activities were held at designated venues in the 18 districts on the day for members of the public to share the fun and benefits of skipping as well as to support the Hong Kong Team in the world championships.

     Other free recreation programmes included exercise talks and demonstrations, fitness corners, parent-child sports programmes and sports participation activities. More than 31 500 people took part in these programmes.

     Responding to the public's active support for Sport For All Day, the spokesman said the department will continue to promote sport for all in the community and the benefits of doing exercise regularly as part of daily life for a better healthy lifestyle.

Ends/Monday, August 4, 2014
Issued at HKT 17:30

NNNN